James Harden’s demands bring another Summer of Simmons situation to Daryl Morey and the Sixers

Another summer of drama from the 76ers?

Another summer of watching the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks make upgrades to their rosters.

Another summer with a Sixers cornerstone player wanting out and the NBA universe paying close attention to the spectacle it is creating.

Another summer with people wondering when Joel Embiid will say enough is enough and ask to be traded.

So, Sixers fans, how are you looking at this?

If you like offseasons full of uncertainty and Embiid’s co-stars feuding with management, you’re pleased with the ongoing adventure.

» READ MORE: NBA backs down from Ben Simmons, emboldens James Harden

If you realize the offseason drama could spill into the regular season, you will react with a sigh.

Unless you are completely unfamiliar with the NBA, you know that James Harden wants to be traded. The point guard informed the Sixers of that on June 29 when he picked up the $35.6 million player option on his contract for the upcoming season. At the time, the team’s second-best player made it known that he preferred to be shipped to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Some believed he may have changed his mind after being spotted having a great time with teammates at Michael Rubin’s Fourth of July party in the Hamptons. The Sixers also signed his close friend and former Houston Rockets teammate, Patrick Beverley, on July 9. However, Harden recently reiterated to the Sixers his desire to be traded. And he has removed all references to the Sixers from his social media platforms.

His Twitter bio no longer describes him as an “NBA Player for the Philadelphia 76ers” nor is his location listed as “Philadelphia, PA.” His instagram bio also no longer mentions that he is a member of the Sixers.

Harden also posted two cryptic sentences to his Instagram story.

“Been comfortable for so long. It’s time to get uncomfortable,” the story post read.

The problem is Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey wants a king’s ransom for Harden, who’s on the decline of his career.

“If we don’t get a very good player or something we can turn into a very good player, then we’re just not going to do it,” Daryl Morey said Tuesday on The Anthony Gargano Show on WPEN-FM 97.5 The Fanatic.

The Sixers took the same approach after Ben Simmons’ former agent, Rich Paul, made it known his client wanted to be traded following the 2020-21 season.

The team made it known Simmons was available in a trade, but demanded equal value in return. Simmons had no interaction with the Sixers’ brass until late August, 2021 when former coach Doc Rivers, managing partner Josh Harris, general manager Elton Brand, and Morey met with him in Los Angeles. At that point, Simmons personally demanded a trade and said he wasn’t coming to training camp.

Simmons made good on his word through almost all of the preseason before ending his 14-day holdout on Oct. 11, 2021, when he showed up for a COVID-19 test and entered the league’s health and safety protocols.

The point guard eventually did show up to two practices but didn’t engage with teammates and was kicked out of the second practice after he refused to participate in a drill.

That was just part of a prolonged standoff, which became circus-like as Simmons never played for the team again before being dealt to the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 10, 2022, for Harden.

Since Harden is in the final year of his deal — and cannot negotiate an extension — different rules could apply to him if he refused to report to training camp.

That because, according to the CBA, any player who “withholds playing services for more than 30 days after the start of the last season covered by his contract” could be deemed to have violated his contract and forbidden from entering free agency and signing with another team until the team he last played for “expressly agrees otherwise.”

Harden is expected to report to training camp.

But the Sixers might be better without Harden showing up unless he’s committed to making the most of his time with the team. If not, a disgruntled player speaking of “it’s time to get uncomfortable” could become a major distraction.

» READ MORE: Sixers’ Daryl Morey only willing to trade James Harden for an elite player or something that can turn into one

That’s not an ideal situation for any team, let alone a squad with a new coach in Nick Nurse, trying to implement his system.

But based on teams’ unwillingness to agree to the Sixers’ lofty trade demands, things could drag out. Plus, it’s hard to fault the Sixers for making such demands because losing Harden in exchange for role players might put the team in a tough spot heading into the season.

He’s still the team’s best ball handler and facilitator, having averaged a league-best 10.7 assists last season. So without his playmaking, the Sixers are in a tough spot. While Harden probably won’t carry them to an NBA title, the Sixers definitely won’t win one without adequately replacing him.

Yet, the Celtics added Kristaps Porziņģis to form a Big Three with All-NBA players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Bucks re-signed three-time All-Star Khris Middleton, All-Defensive first-teamer Brook Lopez, and solid reserve Jae Crowder. They also added Malik Beasley and Robin Lopez, Brook’s twin brother.

Meanwhile, the Sixers’ best offseason move was re-signing restricted free-agent center Paul Reed. While the Celtics and Bucks are being lauded for stellar offseason moves, the Sixers are being mocked for having five centers on their roster.

Those types of transactions aren’t going to help the Sixers keep pace with the Celtics and Bucks in regards to Eastern Conference supremacy.

“Obviously, right now, things are not looking perfect,” Morey said. “You have to squint to figure out how things are going to work. But at the end of the day, try not to focus on the roster in July. We have too much of this, not enough of that. Try to focus on what the roster will look like during the season.”

A lot of the uncertainty surrounding the Sixers roster could depend on when or if they trade Harden.

» READ MORE: If James Harden is traded, how will Sixers guard’s tenure in Philly be remembered?

But how will Embiid react if the Sixers move Harden and fail to get an All-NBA caliber co-star in return?

Meanwhile, teams — primarily the New York Knicks — are monitoring the Sixers’ situation with the hope that Embiid might request a change of scenery. The Knicks have stockpiled numerous first-round picks to include in a deal.

In the meantime, we might be seeing more cryptic social media posts. The Sixers may reiterate their unwillingness to trade Harden for anything less than a very good player or something they can turn into one.

Folks will wonder what type of shape Harden will be in when he reports to training camp, knowing that being in less-than-ideal shape will lower your trade value.

But this type of drama is something that Sixers fans went through before during the Simmons situation. While it’s a dance that Morey has choreographed before, one has to imagine that the drama and chaos are now beyond tiring to an impatient fanbase.